Innovation

💲 SAP Concur's study highlights the role of Travel Managers in leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) within companies. Notably, 99% of Travel Managers stress the importance of having updated data and tools to analyze it, which can significantly reduce daily stress and errors. The study reveals that over one billion expense transactions were processed by Travel Managers in a 12-month period. AI can improve efficiency, aid in smart decision-making, and necessitate proper training for successful technological transition, according to SAP Concur. Stéphane Gillet, General Director for France, Belgium, and Luxembourg at SAP Concur, emphasizes the broader adoption and benefits of AI in business processes.

🔒 Trustwave's "2023 Hospitality Threat Landscape" report states 31% of hospitality businesses experienced a data breach. Mews, a hospitality software provider, has made two-factor authentication (2FA) mandatory for account access to enhance security. The 2FA process involves a password and a unique code from a device such as a phone. Mews encourages clients to activate 2FA and follow additional security tips like verifying website addresses and never sharing login credentials.

🚀 Public Wi-Fi at airports is not secure, posing risks for travelers' sensitive information. To protect personal data, five key recommendations include: using a mobile data connection where possible, employing a VPN to encrypt the connection, avoiding logging into sensitive accounts, setting strong and unique passwords, and ensuring to disconnect from the public Wi-Fi network after use. These practices help safeguard against cybercriminals aiming to steal information in airports.

🚗 WeRide, a Chinese autonomous driving company, and Uber announced a strategic partnership to integrate WeRide's autonomous vehicles into the Uber app, starting in the United Arab Emirates. The service will launch in Abu Dhabi later this year, providing a dedicated number of WeRide vehicles to Uber app users for eligible rides. WeRide gained the UAE's first and only national license for autonomous vehicles in July 2023, allowing operation on public roads throughout the country. No plans to launch in the US or China are mentioned.

💾 Mews, a leading cloud-based hotel management software, now equips over 1,000 establishments in France, making it the country with the most Mews clients. The company's CEO, Matt Welle, highlights substantial investments in France to meet the specific needs of French hoteliers. Recent clients include The Boost Society, Valdys, Maison Mère, and Emeraude Hotels. Maison Mère, a Parisian hotel, reported a 37% increase in RevPAR (revenue per available room) since switching to Mews.

📱 WhatsApp, with over 2 billion active users, offers end-to-end encryption, along with a variety of features such as group chats and free voice/video calls. Despite being a subsidiary of Meta, it collects metadata for commercial use. On the other hand, Signal, launched in 2014 by the non-profit Signal Foundation, prioritizes security with end-to-end encryption and collects no user data, offering features like ephemeral messages and open-source transparency. While WhatsApp serves for everyday communication, Signal is preferred by privacy-conscious users.

🎁 Console SecretBox, designed for creating, promoting, and managing gift box offers autonomously, introduces new features for the holiday season. It leverages AI for simplified offer creation, interconnects with management tools (PMS, POS, table reservations), reducing time and errors, and includes group order options for corporate committees. Aimed at maximizing sales without third-party margins and cash flow impact.

🏨 In Marfa, Texas, El Cosmico hotel expands with a 3D-printed addition, using a giant printer to create 43 new hotel units and 18 homes on 16 hectares. Collaboration between owner Liz Lambert, ICON from Austin, and Bjarke Ingels Group, aiming to complete by 2026 with rates of $200-$450 per night. The Vulcan printer measures 15m wide, 5m high, weighs 4.75 tons, and uses Lavacrete for construction.

💻 Starting in 2025, Air France will provide free high-speed Wi-Fi across its fleet through a partnership with Starlink, promising stable and fast connection even in remote areas worldwide. The European first will see passengers enjoy internet browsing, streaming, online gaming, and work "like at home" at 10,000 meters up. The service, accessible to all via Flying Blue, allows multiple devices per traveler. A progressive rollout will commence in summer 2025, including regional planes, with a transition phase offering a free "messages" pass to Flying Blue members.